‘Just keep going’: After injuries, UNC football’s D.J. Jones starting RB for Tar Heels
D.J. Jones is back and feeling better than ever.
After a pair of injury-plagued seasons with North Carolina football, Jones enters his junior year feeling healthier than he did at any point in 2021.
“Right now, I’m 110% healthy,” Jones said last week in an interview with The Fayetteville Observer. “I feel great. I’m confident and I’m getting even more confident with reps. I feel like I’ll finally be able to just go play now.”
The Fayetteville native and Pine Forest High School graduate has a chance to emerge as an important player in the backfield for the Tar Heels, who are replacing a 1,000-yard rusher in Ty Chandler.
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UNC coach Mack Brown on Monday announced that Jones would be the starting running back in Saturday’s season opener against Florida A&M at Kenan Stadium.
Fifth-year senior British Brooks was expected to be in that role before suffering a season-ending lower-body injury in practice Aug. 13. Elijah Green and Richmond Senior alum Caleb Hood also have dealt with preseason injuries.
In addition to Green and Hood, a pair of freshmen – George Pettaway and Omarion Hampton – and Jones have an opportunity to show they have what it takes to help an offense that’s breaking in a new starting quarterback in the post-Sam Howell era.
“We really haven’t had a specific conversation about it,” Jones said of the team’s preseason injuries. “We always preach ‘next man up.’ If we practice every day like you’re the starter, you won’t have to worry about it when you finally get your chance. I feel like I’ve done that to my standard. I think it’s going to help me get ready for this opportunity.”
Hindered by ankle and foot injuries, Jones has played in 17 games the past two seasons. In 2021, he had 60 carries for 253 yards. He also had 12 catches for 55 yards.
“It’s been a learning process. I’ve had fun, I’ve had bad days, I’ve had great days,” he said. “Everything that I’ve been through so far in Chapel Hill is gonna propel me in the future.”
Jones struggled with the constant uncertainty surrounding his situation last season but chose to focus on “staying active with the small things” he could do to help the team.
“I can look back on those days … my mindset was just to keep going," Jones said. "That’s what got me to where I’m at right now, mentally.”
Mentally and physically, Jones is in a much better place now than he was last year.
“Just keep going. That’s always been my mindset,” he said. “Even when I felt down about being hurt or not being able to help my team, and stuff like that, I knew that one day I would get my opportunity to do those things that I’ve always dreamed of doing. Now it’s just coming into play.”
Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com or @RoddBaxley on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: UNC football RB D.J. Jones back from injuries, named Week 1 starter
